• What encouraged you to run for the school board? 

My kids are almost done with Francis Howell. They all had amazing opportunities and found their own success in school. Looking back, I realize that was all made possible by the hard work of people I never met. Good things exist in our community because people stepped up and did the work. Now I have the chance to do the work and give back to our schools. I believe I have relevant experience and skills that I can utilize in this role while serving my community. Through the board, I can ensure opportunities exist for students just like my kids had.

• What are some recent decisions by the Board that you would like to change or that you disagree with? 

Like everyone else, I am angered by the superintendent payout, but without all the details its hard to know the right answer. A specific example I disagree with is the board update to policy 0340 back in December. The update allows the board to remove other board members from committees based on repeated disrespectful speech. I understand the intent, but I am concerned the wording is too vague. It could potentially be applied incorrectly in the future. During board meetings or when acting in a board capacity, I accept some restrictions on a board member’s speech. However, on their own time, any board member should have the same freedom of speech as any other citizen. I would clarify policy 0340 if possible.

• How will you ensure greater fiscal responsibility in light of the Dominguez scandal? 

We all know we are better off without Dr. Dominguez, but we should learn from the failed process. The decision to hire him was rushed. Picking the leader of such a large district takes time. Now we know that if he were properly vetted, he would have been eliminated from contention. I will ensure greater fiscal responsibility by not making rushed decisions just to satisfy a predetermined time frame. Also, if there is a justifiable reason to remove an employee, it shouldn’t cost taxpayers. I believe the current board should change employment contracts for district employees to have better termination clauses.

• Do you support the book challenges being made in the district? Also, what is your reaction to the current board’s change to the book challenge protocol? Please explain your answers. 

I support parent and community involvement, but the recent book challenges are excessive. Most of the challenged list was for books in high school, where students are transitioning to adulthood. To prepare them for life after graduation, I expect mature, age-appropriate topics. These challenged books help provide diverse perspectives and experiences. Those books should remain available to all students who want to expand their worldview. I also respect the decisions of the media specialists in our libraries who are responsible for stocking our libraries and approving retaining them. In my personal experience, the list includes many classics I read in school. Regardless, parents can still control their students’ access. I respect those parents’ decisions for their child. Accommodating both sides creates a balanced outcome in the end.

The change to the challenge protocol was a needed update to a failing process. It was not set up for mass book challenges. The district didn’t have all the volunteers needed. It wasted money buying all the books for the committee. The artificial deadlines couldn’t be met. The updated process still allows for book challenges, but reduces waste and stress on the district’s limited resources. And like every policy, it can be updated in the future if a better process is developed.

• With Senate Bill 3 in action, cutting down public school funding, how do you plan to improvise with our district’s budget?

If Prop RT passes, we will face significant funding challenges. We are already the most efficient district in the county. We spend less per student. We have the highest district employee ratio. The impact of Prop RT will compound over time. Luckily, the district finances are currently healthy, and we could survive the first year or two while our reserves deplete. After that, the district will have to ask the community to vote on returning the tax levy to its current position. If they vote no, the only option will be significant cuts. I don’t want to cut opportunities for our students, which is why I oppose Prop RT. It removes local control of our district because a majority of voters do not live in Francis Howell. We should control our schools.

• What are your top budgetary priorities, and what would you cut if funding fell short?

My top budgetary priorities are class sizes and staff retention. Larger class sizes negatively impact student achievement. For Francis Howell to succeed, we need to keep student-teacher ratios as small as possible. For teachers to succeed, they need support. To me staff retention applies beyond just certified positions. Any reduction of non-teaching positions puts more work on the teachers and distracts from classroom instruction. Retention is important because attracting and replacing positions is expensive. I will focus on retention to avoid that waste.

If funding fell short, the district does not have much buffer before cuts would be necessary. If there were significant existing waste, previous boards would have already eliminated it. So if cuts are necessary, they will hurt students somewhere. The board’s decision will need to be made with input from everyone. Without knowing the real amount being cut, I can’t say what will be sacrificed. I would expect to involve staff, families, and students for input to help me make that decision. We will have to face it as a community.

• How do you plan to help lower-income students?

I know that lower-income families face many challenges that make it hard to focus on education. Having highly trained counselors allows the district to help students and families. We have district staff who research grants and government programs that help families. Common efforts address food insecurity or affording vacation station. I can help by ensuring the board continues to support these efforts. I also want to foster inclusion of students beyond the classroom. For example, I know that for the recent Henderson Eaglefest, they considered the price of participation. The PTO made sure every student could attend, regardless of income. That type of support should apply to all activities in Francis Howell.

• How do you plan to address the educational gap and income inequalities among students?

Francis Howell is a large district in size and population. With that size comes a diverse community spanning all income groups. We all know that income is an indicator of student achievement. My decisions will consider that fact. A Francis Howell education should have the same chance at success anywhere in the district. I want opportunities available equally in all schools to all students. That begins with having every class an appropriate size with a highly qualified teacher. From there, district decisions should consider the obstacles of low-income students and find solutions that help everyone. For example, any student might have limited access to technology or transportation. The board’s proposed 1:1 technology plan creates opportunities to overcome that problem. We could implement virtual tutoring and activity participation for students who don’t have transportation, because now every student will have a computer. Small changes like that can improve outcomes for everyone.

• How do you make sure that all community members feel heard and trusted in the district?

Making sure people feel heard takes work. Since I started the campaign, I have been trying to reach everyone in the community. I joined social media. For people who know me, that was a big sacrifice. But that is where the community is, so that is where I need to be. I attempted to attend every school’s PTO meeting. There, I listened and learned about what is going on across the district. I’ve been to countless public events. I’ve knocked on hundreds of doors. All of this resulted in hundreds of conversations. This is the energy I will bring with me to my board tenure. Even after the election, I will keep working to get community input.

• If you lost the election, what would you want the winner to prioritize?

I want them to support all students and all families, not just the ones they agree with. I want them to make our schools welcome everyone. I want them to listen to our teachers and staff. Mostly, I want them to fight for high-quality public education and all the good it does.

• Why should students trust you to make decisions that affect them?

I believe trust must be earned. So let me tell you what I’ve done that I believe has earned your trust. I have supported the district since my kids started kindergarten. I am an involved parent who attends every school activity I can. I volunteered for years with hundreds of hours helping students. I have helped raise significant donations for the schools. I’ve spoken up at board meetings over the years on important issues. In my campaign, I have focused on student success as one of my key priorities. You can review all my public statements. I have been consistent in my values, my words, and my actions. Through all this, I feel I have started to earn trust. However, I also think leaders should always be accountable to those they serve. That’s why I showed up tonight to talk with you. If a leader ever says that they can’t be questioned, you probably shouldn’t trust them.